Is Google Giving Priority to Google?

Something that we in the Web business have long suspected has come to light. It looks like Google has been putting its own interests above ours. There are allegations that the widely-known Web browser has been playing favorites when it comes to placement of certain sites within your search results; this was discovered only after the privacy policy on Apple’s Safari browser was breached. If you haven’t heard about that:

“Google (GOOG, Fortune 500) displays links to its own “vertical search services” differently than it does for links to competitors, the letter said. The commission said it is concerned that Google may be giving its own services preferential treatment over rivals.

Though the letter did not outline specifics, such Google services include local reviews, shopping listings and flight schedules, among others, which sometimes compete with companies like Yelp (YELP), Amazon (AMZN, Fortune 500), Priceline (PCLN) and Expedia (EXPE).”